What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sturbridge	Whitingham
People
Population	9,960Highest	1,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.	$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.	$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minLowest 43% above U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	7.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.